Spectators who arrived at the Gabba in record numbers for a non-Ashes Test might have expected fire and brimstone from the Australian fast bowlers and plenty of chatter from their slips cordon. Instead the most resonant noise of the day was the repeated clunk of ball on the bats of Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis, as South Africa capitalised on a mediocre display from the hosts' attack to waltz to 2 for 255 by the time bad light brought an early close.

Losing only the captain Graeme Smith and his fellow opener Alviro Petersen all day, the visitors gave Michael Clarke's men the sort of lessons in concentration and crease occupation they had dealt so mercilessly to England earlier this year. Amla's typically cultured innings took him to 5000 Test runs more swiftly than Ricky Ponting had once managed, and Kallis played with the familiar combination of discipline and power that has served him grandly for near enough to 15 years. Together they laid bare the vulnerability of an Australian attack with only four specialist bowlers.

That Michael Hussey and the debutant Rob Quiney were both called upon before the tea break reflected how slim Clarke's options became. Ben Hilfenhaus, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle failed to use the new ball adequately on a surface that, while tacky and slowish, did offer enough movement to beat the bat if the ball was landed with precision.

But apart from a brief spell either side of Smith's pre-lunch wicket, in which Pattinson and Siddle found the ideal length and line to cause discomfort, no batsman was unduly troubled by pace, Hilfenhaus lacked the incisiveness and variation on the bowling crease he showed last summer, despite tidy figures. Nathan Lyon gained disconcerting bounce at times and his flight caused Petersen's downfall, but South Africa's batsmen ensured he was unable to settle into a rhythm by taking him for five runs per over.

Nonetheless, the day might have ended differently had Siddle not slipped up against both batsmen in the final session. Kallis had 43 when he miscued a pull shot to mid-off, only for Asad Rauf's check on the bowler's front foot to reveal a no-ball had been delivered. On 74, Amla pushed a return catch that Siddle would have taken last year when so much seemed to work for him, but this time it fell to ground.

Smart stats

Hashim Amla became the seventh South African batsman to pass the 5000-run mark in Tests. Amla is the third batsman in the group (after Jacques Kallis and Graeme Smith) to average more than 50.

The century stand between Amla and Kallis is their 11th in Tests. Only the AB de Villiers-Kallis pair has more century stands (12) for South Africa.

Kallis and Amla also went past Gary Kirsten and Kallis to become the South African pair with the highest partnership aggregate in Tests.

The 136-run stand between Kallis and Amla is the first century stand for the third wicket for South Africa in Tests in Australia since 1992 and their third-highest overall in Australia.

Amla, with 777 runs in 12 innings, is the second-highest run-getter in 2012 behind Michael Clarke, who has scored 782 runs in ten innings.

Kallis now has 14 fifty-plus scores against Australia in 26 Tests. He has scored 1723 runs at an average of 40.06.

This is the ninth time that South Africa have managed three fifty-plus scores in the top four in an innings against Australia. The last time this happened was in the Perth Test in 2008 when South Africa successfully chased 414.

Australia's indifferent start seemed at least partly driven by nerves at facing up to the world's top-ranked team at home. Hilfenhaus and Pattinson were too short and too straight in the early overs, allowing Smith and Petersen the chance to tuck several deliveries away to the legside. The home side's over-excitement was best conveyed by a frivolous decision referral when a Hilfenhaus delivery brushed Smith's pad on the way through to Matthew Wade down the legside, leaving them with only one more for the remainder of the innings.

As he often did last summer, Siddle showed the way by bowling a little fuller and extracting some more deviation from the surface. With the last ball of the innings' 10th over he fizzed one past Petersen's bat on the ideal length, and Pattinson paid attention.

Swung around to the end from which he nipped out five New Zealand batsmen in the second innings of the corresponding Test last year, Pattinson's first ball of a new spell straightened on off stump to Smith, who looked palpably lbw. The umpire Billy Bowden was unconvinced, but an incandescent Pattinson encouraged a referral that had Bowden's finger belatedly raised.

Lyon's introduction revealed plenty of bounce and some turn on the first morning, but Petersen and Amla showed plenty of attacking intent to keep the spinner from settling. Amla advanced to crash a straight six, and by lunch was looking every bit as ominous as he had in England.

The early overs of the afternoon unfolded carefully, Australia trying to tighten up and South Africa unwilling to surrender their advantage with undue haste. It was Petersen who seemed in the greater hurry, and his aggression would result in Australia's only wicket of the session.

Reverting to round the wicket, Lyon looped the ball nicely, and Petersen found himself short of the pitch when he tried to muscle down the ground. Hussey accepted the catch, and at 2 for 119 Clarke's side had the glimmer of an opening.

It was soon shut by Kallis, who was swiftly into his stride with attractive drives and one ungainly but effective pull beyond wide long-on for six. Lyon was being taken for around five runs per over, but he created as much doubt in the batsmen's minds as any of the pacemen, who struggled to find the right length on a consistent basis.

When they did, the ball could still beat the bat, but the sight of both Hussey and the debutant Quiney at the bowling crease before tea on day one of the series was not an encouraging portent for the hosts. Siddle's missed opportunities in the final session sapped the energy of the fielders, and the wait for the second new ball seemed interminable.

By the time it arrived, the umpires deemed the light to be too poor for it to be delivered safely, leaving Amla and Kallis to walk off. They have given South Africa the best possible start, and Australia a sobering reminder that far higher standards will be required to seriously challenge the world's best.

@Rajesh_india_1990 please check indias all tours to southafrica.Even they cannot score 100 in an innings in most of test.Indias worst record is against southafrica both in home and away.Last indias tour india played well,for that you have appreciate garykirsten(southafrican player).I still belevie last series in southafrica remains as a record forever.

POSTED BY
on | November 10, 2012, 7:00 GMT

@Shobhit Singh why dont god of cricket sachin atleat save 1 test from england whitewash(4-0)or australia whitewash (4-0).Is this god not interested in australian and england tour?In ODI you cannot compare kallis and sachin beacause kallis average more than sachin in ODI and more wickets than sachin..

POSTED BY
heathrf1974
on | November 10, 2012, 6:10 GMT

Oh well. Day 2 to Australia.

POSTED BY
crh8971
on | November 10, 2012, 5:28 GMT

The idea that Sachin Tendulkar, great as he undoubtedly is, is the best batsmen of all time is simply ridiculous. The Don's average was not just marginally better than SRT's it was 81% better. That pretty much makes any other discussion irrelevant.

POSTED BY
VivtheGreatest
on | November 10, 2012, 5:12 GMT

@sameer111111, Perth in 1992 against Mcdermott, Whitney and Merv Hughes bouncy enough for u ? It was a real trampoline. Remember Ambrose destroying Australia there the following year. Please think before u start typing. By the way how many centuries has Kallis got at the WACA?

POSTED BY
on | November 10, 2012, 4:37 GMT

I agree with Sabeer Hussain comments: "Hashim Amla is having a simple, innocent look in his body language and what a dynamic batsman he is, we all know that".
Amla + Kallis + DeVilliers + South Africa Pace Attack = "Murdering the Opposition"

POSTED BY
Anwaruzz
on | November 10, 2012, 4:35 GMT

Pace does not matter to SA, remember they practice against Steyn/Morkel & Co.? AUS should pick the best length from which to swing or bounce the ball to come back. The pitch is supposed to flatten out but with the rain, swing + spin may become a factor hence. Seems SA has picked up the easiest 250runs yof this Test. If no rain follows after today then this match will be interesting to watch or follow.

POSTED BY
kh1902
on | November 10, 2012, 4:35 GMT

I'm really bemused by the wicket to say the least - makes a mockery of the notion that only the subcontinent has slow, flat tracks, given this GABBA wicket and the one in England for the first test against SA this year. Australia's best chance would be to prepare a wicket with more pace and bounce to expose the weaknesses of players like Kallis. Kallis thrives on flat tracks like this when everyone else in his team scores runs, like in England earlier this year. He feasted on a flat track in Test 1 and failed thereafter. For a so-called great player, he goes unusually quiet when SA are under the pump. Sure Steyn and co. would be a handful on faster wickets but at least Australia would have a chance of bowling them out.

POSTED BY
Vikum72
on | November 10, 2012, 4:18 GMT

Didn't think Tendulkar is playing in this match....is he?

POSTED BY
Vikum72
on | November 10, 2012, 3:55 GMT

It's being non-stop rain since last night. To think we didn't have any substantial rain over 2 months before this... I'm almost convinced cricket matches are as good as artificial rain in getting rid of a drought! ICC should arrange cricket matches in some of those African countries where they badly need some rain. :-)

POSTED BY
on | November 10, 2012, 7:25 GMT

@Rajesh_india_1990 please check indias all tours to southafrica.Even they cannot score 100 in an innings in most of test.Indias worst record is against southafrica both in home and away.Last indias tour india played well,for that you have appreciate garykirsten(southafrican player).I still belevie last series in southafrica remains as a record forever.

POSTED BY
on | November 10, 2012, 7:00 GMT

@Shobhit Singh why dont god of cricket sachin atleat save 1 test from england whitewash(4-0)or australia whitewash (4-0).Is this god not interested in australian and england tour?In ODI you cannot compare kallis and sachin beacause kallis average more than sachin in ODI and more wickets than sachin..

POSTED BY
heathrf1974
on | November 10, 2012, 6:10 GMT

Oh well. Day 2 to Australia.

POSTED BY
crh8971
on | November 10, 2012, 5:28 GMT

The idea that Sachin Tendulkar, great as he undoubtedly is, is the best batsmen of all time is simply ridiculous. The Don's average was not just marginally better than SRT's it was 81% better. That pretty much makes any other discussion irrelevant.

POSTED BY
VivtheGreatest
on | November 10, 2012, 5:12 GMT

@sameer111111, Perth in 1992 against Mcdermott, Whitney and Merv Hughes bouncy enough for u ? It was a real trampoline. Remember Ambrose destroying Australia there the following year. Please think before u start typing. By the way how many centuries has Kallis got at the WACA?

POSTED BY
on | November 10, 2012, 4:37 GMT

I agree with Sabeer Hussain comments: "Hashim Amla is having a simple, innocent look in his body language and what a dynamic batsman he is, we all know that".
Amla + Kallis + DeVilliers + South Africa Pace Attack = "Murdering the Opposition"

POSTED BY
Anwaruzz
on | November 10, 2012, 4:35 GMT

Pace does not matter to SA, remember they practice against Steyn/Morkel & Co.? AUS should pick the best length from which to swing or bounce the ball to come back. The pitch is supposed to flatten out but with the rain, swing + spin may become a factor hence. Seems SA has picked up the easiest 250runs yof this Test. If no rain follows after today then this match will be interesting to watch or follow.

POSTED BY
kh1902
on | November 10, 2012, 4:35 GMT

I'm really bemused by the wicket to say the least - makes a mockery of the notion that only the subcontinent has slow, flat tracks, given this GABBA wicket and the one in England for the first test against SA this year. Australia's best chance would be to prepare a wicket with more pace and bounce to expose the weaknesses of players like Kallis. Kallis thrives on flat tracks like this when everyone else in his team scores runs, like in England earlier this year. He feasted on a flat track in Test 1 and failed thereafter. For a so-called great player, he goes unusually quiet when SA are under the pump. Sure Steyn and co. would be a handful on faster wickets but at least Australia would have a chance of bowling them out.

POSTED BY
Vikum72
on | November 10, 2012, 4:18 GMT

Didn't think Tendulkar is playing in this match....is he?

POSTED BY
Vikum72
on | November 10, 2012, 3:55 GMT

It's being non-stop rain since last night. To think we didn't have any substantial rain over 2 months before this... I'm almost convinced cricket matches are as good as artificial rain in getting rid of a drought! ICC should arrange cricket matches in some of those African countries where they badly need some rain. :-)

POSTED BY
Rajesh_india_1990
on | November 10, 2012, 3:25 GMT

@wellrounded87 lol.. two bad series and sachin is worst today..nobody plays consistent cricket for more than 23 years other than SACHIN..Thats why he is the greatest ever to hold the bat....

POSTED BY
Jedi029
on | November 10, 2012, 2:41 GMT

200+ comments and probably 10% of those people know what they are talking about. Australia have one bad day and everybody savagely rips into them, SA have a quality batting attack and on that pitch I'd doubt any other team would have done much better than the Aussie bowlers did on day one. It's still early days in this series so its a bit hard to write the Aussies off yet or pencil in SA for a whitewash.

POSTED BY
Meety
on | November 10, 2012, 2:33 GMT

@ jezzastyles on (November 10 2012, 00:17 AM GMT) - yes Brett Lee was classic at the no-ball wicket! I was camping when Siddle did the Dravid no-ball last year - I burst into a series of verbal abuse with every adjective under the sun & ended with the word Victorian! LOL! I promptly changed the channell on the car radio & drove with clenched teeth mutterring non stop for nearly 100km! I dunno what was wrong with Siddle yesterday - he has regressed in just 1 month. As far as the over rates, I wonder how far behind they were given UDRS & several batsmen led hold ups? I know we were 5 overs behind at Tea but I did not think ALL those overs were Oz fault!

POSTED BY
pat_one_back
on | November 10, 2012, 2:15 GMT

Weather forecast says this a 90% chance of a draw, bookies appear to agree. Hopefully the Aussies bounce back sharper next test, SA would have been 4 effectively 5 + down if Aust had just taken what was offered, let alone bowled a better length to capitalise on some 1st day movement of the deck, frightening as it wasn't. There's no huge gulf apparent between these 2 teams, based on day 1 Aust can take this series without super human feats simply by just not blowing what's put on offer.

POSTED BY
Ozcricketwriter
on | November 10, 2012, 1:20 GMT

Game is over, barring rain. Australia would need to play unbelievably well to draw it, and with 2 cheap wickets in Cowan and Quiney this looks unlikely. Even the best 11 would probably struggle, but this team with so many bad players in it was never any chance. Congratulations to South Africa. Even the injury to J P Duminy won't make much of a difference.

Excellent batting display by the Saffers on a slowish Gabba wicket. @Meety - nothing surprising in yet another wicket gone begging courtesy of a no ball - I reckon Brett Lee would have close to 30 Test wickets more were it not for overstepping. The AUS bowling has looked very good over the last 18 months, but they're now facing the best in the world - they must bowl with precision and put the batsmen in two minds - they gave away too many easy runs on the on-side today. Lyon looked good early, but his runs/over must be a concern. Siddle & Pattinson were definitely down on pace - not what you want to see on the opening morning of a much anticipated test series. All the points go to SA on day one. Things are looking pretty grim, the AUS batting lineup must be disciplined and effective against Steyn & co. Rain could be our saviour. PS- Very sad to hear about the injury to JP Duminy.

POSTED BY
on | November 10, 2012, 0:13 GMT

Albie Morkel should be flown in to bat at 7 from the next test. His batting avg is 45, gives them another seamer, so hey can play Tahir each test. Amla looks like the best of east & west. Can stand tall against short pitched bowling, yet plays all the wristy shots of the east.

POSTED BY
on | November 10, 2012, 0:10 GMT

Chances going a begging tend to even out over the period of a match. So let's not get bent out of shape over Siddle's miscues. SA has taken command of this match. Just to think of the batting to come must be disconcerting to the Ozmen. Like Hamla's approach to batting; the man's just a clean player. Concentrates hard, very disciplined. A delight for the eyes of any cricket connoisseur. Kallis is, well Kallis. Even with the current rainfall and minus JP, SA should still total a decent score when their first turn at the crease ends. Then we'll see how the Ozmen big bats handle Steyn & Co. Should be some interesting cricket in the ensuing days.

POSTED BY
No_1_again
on | November 10, 2012, 0:02 GMT

We need one good session to turn the match around. We have a positive thinking captain who is always on something. Go OZiiiii

POSTED BY
Vikum72
on | November 9, 2012, 23:52 GMT

Well folks, it is RAINING in Brisbane! It happened in South Africa and it happens in Australia. So it's not only in Sri Lanka that rains hinder cricket matches.

POSTED BY
wellrounded87
on | November 9, 2012, 23:50 GMT

Lol at the claim of sachin being best batsmen ever... he's not even the best batsmen today and his figures clearly show that.

POSTED BY
yorkslanka
on | November 9, 2012, 22:38 GMT

why are all these Indians comenting about sachin?yes he is a great player BUT he is not playing in THIS match...keep your comments relevant guys...

POSTED BY
pat_one_back
on | November 9, 2012, 22:17 GMT

So much criticism for the Aust bowlers, not a great day but opportunities were created an went begging which now unquestionably demonstrates their superiority over Eng's rank ordinary attack!. Opening blow to SA but hardly a hay maker, more a series of jabs, great contest between No 1&2 in the world to play out yet.

POSTED BY
Trickstar
on | November 9, 2012, 21:53 GMT

@ Front-Foot_lunge Nah Headingley was the test that KP was playing the SA attack like a U11 side and it ended in a draw, it was the Oval where we put up 385 then they put up over 600 for next to nowt.

POSTED BY
Divinetouch
on | November 9, 2012, 21:35 GMT

The grandeus of the man makes him the yardstick by which others are judged. He is not even playing in this series and yet it isimperative to refer to him.

The best batsman ever Shri Sachin Tendulkar.

POSTED BY
AdoSR
on | November 9, 2012, 21:34 GMT

Why are we talking about Sachin?

POSTED BY
Hammond
on | November 9, 2012, 21:21 GMT

Yeah RandyOz- just like you've forgotten every ashes test match since 2006.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 21:16 GMT

these two blokes will take the game awy from australia. amla s by far the best test batsman period. best batsmen r of indian nature n yet thy r knwn for being scared of short balls bt thy keep on piling the runs.

POSTED BY
thruthecovers
on | November 9, 2012, 21:12 GMT

SA probably about 50 runs short. 300/2 should've been given the situation they found themselves in. In hindsight, after the bad news of JP's injury (get well soon mate), that could easily have been 300/4 in trying to go after the bowling which effectively would've been 5 wickets down with him not being able to bat. On a side...was anyone as shocked as me at the sight of Peterson throwing away his wicket like that? That realy came out of nowhere with him and Amla looking comfortable and well set! Saw Lyon afterwards having a crack-up. Not even he expected that! lol

POSTED BY
Meety
on | November 9, 2012, 20:40 GMT

@JG2704 on (November 09 2012, 08:33 AM GMT) - I guess you missed the dozens of articles on Cummins injury!!! It was dejavu, returns from Saffaland, a little bit sore, soreness turns out to be serious, out for the summer!
@SICHO on (November 09 2012, 11:08 AM GMT) - since you asked, I returned rather late last night from a massive day at the Gabba. I am able to comment today as I have parental duties involving a Dentist!
== == ==
Righto, the actual game, I couldn't believe that Siddle did it again, getting the cornerstone batsmen out off a no-ball! When he did it to Dravid last year - I thought he had handed the MCG test to the Indians. Oz bowlers will continue to fight. The weather will have an impact on this match. I am expecting Oz to do better with the 2nd new ball. Hopefully Craig Mac has been on the phone to Mrs Siddle, Pattinson & Hilfenhaus (they of short memories), & tell them that the secret dossier was meant to be a gee-up, stop bowling short & do as I told you last year!!

POSTED BY
whoster
on | November 9, 2012, 20:23 GMT

Aus could be in big trouble letting both Amla and Kallis off the hook. As we English found out recently, those two take a hell of a lot of getting out when they're set. If SA get 500 or more, that'll put big pressure on Aus's batting line up - which has an inexperienced and unproven top 3. I reckon Aus will have to restrict SA to 400 or less to stay in the game

POSTED BY
Pratchett
on | November 9, 2012, 20:10 GMT

Sachin huzzaaaahhhh! All hail Sachin!!! Tendulkar is the best! He will score a triple century in this match for sure! Oh wait... Sorry... I thought he was playing because people comment on him the whole time...

POSTED BY
Schumi1
on | November 9, 2012, 19:38 GMT

Anyone else choke up when they interviewed Tony Greig? I never regarded his commentary as legendary or anything but now definitely missed the guy. Hope he gets well very soon...shame. Same goes for Robin Jackman.

POSTED BY
Newlandsfaithful
on | November 9, 2012, 18:45 GMT

Sachin is finished. Don't believe he's half the batsmen he used to be. He scares no one anymore. His continued involvement in the game is destroying his legacy and making him look foolish.

POSTED BY
bumsonseats
on | November 9, 2012, 18:40 GMT

randy and you have done better that you did against england 517 for 1 as i remember. fella you got to do better than that, come on aussie come on.

POSTED BY
Biggus
on | November 9, 2012, 18:00 GMT

Strange day of test cricket I thought. Our bowlers were all over the shop and seemed to be underprepared and yet the South African batting was workmanlike rather than brilliant and/or dominating. The Saffers obviously have the better of the situation yet it could have been really bad had they put us to the sword as I feared they might. So here we are, does the morning bring early wickets and a modest SA total or will this already workmanlike innings be parlayed into a series defining statement? Will the weather intervene? Starc must be thinking he would have done at least as well as the others had he been selected. Our bowlers really just looked like they'd awoken from a deep sleep and hadn't quite got their bearings yet, but the wicket should be quicker tomorrow if the rain holds off so they'll have chances to make amends with luck. Ominous however.....

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 17:43 GMT

Sachin is the most complete of dis era.Problem is u can compare Sachin to Kallis only in test,not in one dayer. In one dayer kallis is no where in front of sachin. U guys know that one day format is the most entertaining format in cricket , and sachin is the god of dis format.Yeah u can ask about test criket about sachin and it's fair.If u looking a complete picture than u got that"sachin is uncomparable".

amazing cricket by SA.. I guess Aussies aren't that great after all, maybe India played poorly that's why they were made to look amazing... On the back foot from the first session. This isn't how they are gonna become No.1 for sure... Mitch Starc not getting a game is baffling. He has been bowling well for sometime, should have been in place of hilfenhaus

POSTED BY
2.14istherunrate
on | November 9, 2012, 16:55 GMT

So 2 wickets to Australia in a day. How many tomorrow? Amla and Kallis not out. What if De Villiers comes to the party? Could be another difficult day for Aus. Do I care?? Not a chance....

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 16:45 GMT

No 1 fan of Hashim Amla. Hashim Amla Makes all the muslims around the world feel proud for his simplicity, Work Ethics and honesty.He is the best think happen to south African cricket. He is currenty the best player in the world with no one close to him may be kallis, Kohli are chasing him. He and kallis score another century and all the doors will close for aussies.

POSTED BY
sameer111111
on | November 9, 2012, 15:42 GMT

And that, Sachin, is how you play on bouncy surfaces. You can have all the centuries in the world, but it is the one's on difficult surfaces or conditions that truly matter. And stop showing statistics all around, every country have a few flat decks, including Australia. Just because you make them count dosent make you the greatest player in the current generation. That title belongs to Kallis, on batting performance alone.

POSTED BY
Biggest_Cricket_Fan
on | November 9, 2012, 15:29 GMT

I don't think, Aussie current bowlers are anywhere close to their golden period with McGrath, Lee, Warne etc. These bowlers are medicore. It was Indian batsmen getting getting close to retirement (I mean old) due to lack of footwork made a big deal of these bowlers. Its glad to see SA batsmen are showing and would continue to show Aussie bowlers where exactly they belong (i.e. at the bottom). I really wonder what would happen to these bowlers when they tour India on lifelss tracks where Indian batsmen (hopefully !!) would be tigers in their own back-yard.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 15:25 GMT

8-11. If you get the top 7 fast, the rest will hopefully follow. But keep an eye in Ashwin. Make him get involved in a run-out, preferably himself; getting his partner out is only a second choice

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 15:24 GMT

7. Dhoni: His helicopter is slightly out of order. So make him play that shot. Keep on yorking, you will get him.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 15:24 GMT

6. Yuvi: Get KP as a close-in fielder. Ask him to chant "Pie chucker". He may hit the ball over KP's head for a few times. Sooner or later KP's long reach will gobble up the ball.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 15:23 GMT

5. Kohli. Get selectors to rope in Kelly Brooks as the 12th 'man'. Make her field in short slips. If not possible, make her field at silly mid-on. You always use assets of a player to trap the batsman, use her assets to distract him.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 15:22 GMT

4. Sachin: Stump to stump; that's the 'mantra'. Don't give width. Cramp for space. Will give you 'lbw' or the stump. Preferably use a rookie, like Meaker. Have weakness for rookies.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 15:22 GMT

3. Pujara: Another wall. You want to buy; he doesn't sell. Wait for a mistake.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 15:21 GMT

2. Veeru: Just bounce, make him upper cut. He may hit a few for six. Soon enough, he will get the elevation and not the distance. Presto, he will be out.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 15:19 GMT

@Rajesh_India_1990. Here is something I got from my old newspaper buyer. An English Dozier; you may be interested to read all these 'flowering' strategies.
1.Gambhir: Don't bounce, or exert to york. Just swing. Mostly out-swinger. Occasional in-swinger. He may hit afew to the cow corner. But surely will poke one into the slips, or play oone on to his stumps. 2. Veeru: follows

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 15:17 GMT

there much cricket still left to be played... 1st day of the 1st test, ENG were all over SA, but went on to be thrashed.... We cannot afford to be complacent

POSTED BY
BravoBravo
on | November 9, 2012, 15:14 GMT

all mates, dudes, bro and guys: This is first day, can't draw any conclusions as of now. Match could end up in draw, but there will not be any inning defeat for either team. SA is very nice outfit but they are playing agianst AUS, not the minnows like IND and NZ.

POSTED BY
A_Yorkshire_Lad
on | November 9, 2012, 15:13 GMT

@Clive _Dunn ( 07.41 AM GMT ) - a pretty depressing day for you , too , I should imagine...

POSTED BY
Shaikhzaid
on | November 9, 2012, 15:01 GMT

Sa will win this match an test series they have strong batting line up and world greatest fast bowlers in world

POSTED BY
samincolumbia
on | November 9, 2012, 14:56 GMT

Australian FLAT pitches are killing any chance Australia has of winning a test against South Africa!

POSTED BY
SnowSnake
on | November 9, 2012, 14:53 GMT

I could only watch the game till about lunch. I really like to hear from fans as to why Australia did not do well. Is it that their bowling is bad or pitch is poor because it seems like India and SA are playing. Such massive scores with few wickets are norm against India when it plays on fast tracks. So I suspect either poor bowling or poor track. Which one is it?

POSTED BY
Desi_In_US
on | November 9, 2012, 14:37 GMT

It's awesome to watch Amla bat. Sticking it back to Aussies is simply icing on the cake :)... Go Amla!!!

Someone suggested Sachin Record test centuries is in danger!!! I doubt still Kallis is behind Sachin with some 7 centuries...Which may take at least one to two years for Kallis...Will he be playing till 39 years like Sachin did??? records are meant to be broken anyways!!!!!!!

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 14:29 GMT

Some pretty bizarre selections on both sides for this match. Given that both Ponting & Hussey will be retiring soon - & that Clarke might well follow them not long afterwards - you'd have thought Australia would be intent on giving players such as Hughes & Khawaja as much opportunity as possible to bed in for the long run, as well as blooding outstanding young talents like Callum Ferguson, Joe Burns & Alex Doolan. What do they do instead? They pick the 30-year-old journeyman Rob Quiney (79 first-class runs this season in 6 innings, if you exclude his 85 against SA for Australia A). Why didn't they just move Ponting, Clarke & Hussey up a place & slot one of the above in at No. 6?

Likewise, SA's exclusion of the Leggie Tahir. Leaving out your only specialist spinner for a *fifth* seamer simply defies cricketing logic, as does burdening a top-class batsman like de Villiers with the gloves when you have the outrageously talented Quinton de Kock waiting in the wings.

POSTED BY
Sobhan_Sachinfan
on | November 9, 2012, 14:24 GMT

Now Duminy is out of equation for SA, they should score ONE BIG declare. They can go for the kill all guns firing in bowling out Australia. Wonderful start to the tour.Tough day for Aussies Brothers.............

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 14:20 GMT

The Aussie bowling attack lacks bite - all that pre-match talk about two great pace attacks was marketing bluster to boost public interest in the series. The reality is that SA bowling is clearly superior - and Steyn-Morkel-Philander will dominate Aussie batting.

POSTED BY
2nd_Slip
on | November 9, 2012, 14:09 GMT

Early days (remember 1st test day 1 Eng vs SA)... but either way good start from the boys. From what Ive seen so far, Lyon is not that much better than Tahir and I hope SA wont regret living him out because he would have come handy espacially if they end up with a huge total and aim to bat once.

POSTED BY
Rajesh_india_1990
on | November 9, 2012, 14:09 GMT

Southafrica will going to thrash all teams which come on their way.all will come to an end when india meet southafrica in 2013..(anybody remember who beat invisible australians under steve waugh who already has 16 consecutive test wins )

POSTED BY
MianMoosa
on | November 9, 2012, 13:48 GMT

well things are looking for terrible for aussies,,, amla & kallis well set on the crease...450+ is on the cards big time....2 chances can prove very costly,,,,as match goes further pitch will detoriorate,,,, australia should must play with 4 pacers,,,,i miss starc big time today,,,,and australia should prepare a green top wicket for first match,,,,,

POSTED BY
Beertjie
on | November 9, 2012, 13:45 GMT

Partly agree with you Vinay Kolhatkar on (November 09 2012, 11:02 AM GMT). Posted my disappointment as soon as I heard about Harris's injury. But Hilf just desperately wanted to prove that the last Ashes was an aberration. Unfortunately, it was not! We're still not there yet because of injuries to Harris and Cummins, so we must look after Pattinson and Starc. How to take 20 Saffer wickets on good batting tracks will be the issue. Well, no dropped catches for one, but I'm not holding my breath. 1-0 to the Saffers. Btw, good post about non-effectiveness of Lyon, @Unomaas on (November 09 2012, 10:22 AM GMT). That's why we need Holland, but please give SO'K a go in the meantime.

POSTED BY
ozwriter
on | November 9, 2012, 13:38 GMT

its funny ppl predicting a draw. after the first test day in south africa's tour of england, england were on top. and that was the best day of their whole series. i think its premature to make such sure conclusions from one day.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 13:34 GMT

First blood, emphatically, to the Saffers. The Aussies' much-vaunted pace attack was made to look as toothless as it was against England during the 10-11 Ashes, while Lyon proved yet again that he's a journeyman at best. How much longer will the Aussie selectors wait before giving the admirable Steve O'Keefe a go? Duminy's injury's evened things up a little - as has the Saffers' mystifying decision to leave out Tahir - but the best the Aussies can realistically hope for now is a draw. Given the forecasts of significant rain for the next couple of days, that may well be the most likely result.

POSTED BY
jonesy.2
on | November 9, 2012, 13:29 GMT

remember the 1st day of eng v sa, england were all over them, then came doom and gloom. if we had played our best attack i think we could have got another couple of wickets. i had so many thoughts of us becoming number 1 i forgot that we may not be good enough. tomorrow i hope we can keep then down below 600, then watch us go for victory.

POSTED BY
RandyOZ
on | November 9, 2012, 13:10 GMT

Well we at least have more wickets than England managed to take in an entire test match against them. Good to see the English have forgotten that series, much like they did against Pakistan.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 12:55 GMT

Guys - its only day 1, its too early to predict whether SA will reach 550+ or match will be draw. Anything can happen next couple of days or so. remember few good delivery/overs is good enough to bowled out the innings - so don't predict the game yet neither blame Aussie bowler.because right now 2 of the best SA batsman in the crease.I reckon 2 more wicket would have been great day but SA is not too far though 255/2. So tomorrow early couple of wickets will give real hope to Aussie. Lets hope - they will fire up tomorrow

POSTED BY
RandyOZ
on | November 9, 2012, 12:55 GMT

Well at least we have more wickets than England got against them!

POSTED BY
Akshita29
on | November 9, 2012, 12:54 GMT

Come on out RandyOZ now . We are waiting your insightful comment on great Australian Bowling . Anyways bad news For SA is injury of JP Duminy ... And wow kallis I wonder if he had concentrated on his batting alone how many more centuries he could have scored . Be it swing or spin or be the most difficult of situation we can always count on him to come off with a great innings . Even at 37 he would be faster than some Aussie bowlers on display today. He is surely one of the greatest test Batsman ever if not the greatest .

POSTED BY
heathrf1974
on | November 9, 2012, 12:53 GMT

Very impressive by the Saffas. They value their wicket highly. The only problem they may have is their run rate, but it is only minor. The wicket is looking very good.

POSTED BY
Hammond
on | November 9, 2012, 12:49 GMT

Can I also say that the dearth of decent batsmen in Australian domestic cricket is flattering the figures in such a way to make the Aussie bowlers look better than bog average, which in reality they are. Shame that Aussies have underestimated South Africa just because they destroyed a very good England side at home. Need to re-evaluate both the Aussie test level and the abilities of the three lions at the same time, with an eye on a potential hammering next Winter against the 2nd best test side in the world. England may well recover from the shellacking but not much hope Australia will.

POSTED BY
Hammond
on | November 9, 2012, 12:41 GMT

Just have to add- Siddle confirming his bog average ability in neon lights.

POSTED BY
GRVJPR
on | November 9, 2012, 12:33 GMT

Those Genes of 'Hashim Amla' have pretty solid
'Indian Wrists' !

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 12:32 GMT

@gnanzcupid on (November 09 2012, 11:41 AM GMT)... Well to me the only reason for sachin to still continue playing Test cricket is the presence of Kallis who will surely overtake Sachin in no time if Sachin stops playing. The SELFISH man is just trying to protect his personal records and hence destroying the future of Indian cricket.. But with this poor display by Sachin, Kallis will even surpass him while both playing.

As regards the match, we have to see how Australians bat.. then a conclusion could be possible.

POSTED BY
IndiaNeedsBowlers
on | November 9, 2012, 12:20 GMT

Hi I haven't seen the days play (working :( ). But this is where I feel Aussies missed Watson the most.Watson is a very good bowler and picks up wickets when just in situations like this. He also provides a good variety from the other Aussie quicks.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | November 9, 2012, 12:05 GMT

Wow I just seen the Petersen LBW shout - that was plumb. I dont believe the accuracy of DRS saying that him outside the line.

POSTED BY
200ondebut
on | November 9, 2012, 12:04 GMT

A bit harsh to say "a mediocre display" from the bowlers. They all tried hard and did the best they could do. As was the case in the Ashes - they are just not of international quality and will be exposed against strong batting line ups.

I worry a bit for the Aussies because the pitch looked like it had plenty on offer for the quicks - and the likes of Morkel, Philander and Steyn wil be a handfull.

POSTED BY
dariuscorny
on | November 9, 2012, 11:58 GMT

@Rajesh_india_1990 hey mate you seem to have gone bonkers,dear friend dont forget India is in state of bother and when i say it, IND are in transtion,they have a lot of work to do to pose any challenge against this top team,coz we have just experienced the departure of our legends VVS,Dravid,Kumble,Ganguly,filling that void wud take time,talking about this match i think Aus fast bowlers were bowling like trundlers ,didnt see any pace of which they hv been always associated with,SA batsmen were hitting them at will,moreover Aus fielders were dropping Amla,hope they will come firing against SA tommorrow

POSTED BY
Wallaroo
on | November 9, 2012, 11:56 GMT

It's only day one and Australia will be a lot more vigilant tomorrow.

Having said that, praise must be given to SA for their hard work and rewards today, Kallis and Amla are certainly 2 of the finest cricketers in the world. Smith is a very astute captain no doubt. Even if we lose the series Aus would have learned a lot more than SA, and will no doubt use these lessons to bounce back with vengeance.

POSTED BY
Shaggy076
on | November 9, 2012, 11:56 GMT

It's only day one - India got of to a flyer with the bat last year 2/200 odd then the bowlers clicked into gear. Amla and Kallis are class players and would certainly make any world XI. The bowling not brilliant wasnt average either. All four bowlers have earnt there place in the team with there most recent test performances. Amla could have easily been given out for a duck, had Kallis except for the no-ball. If things went our way could have easily been 5/250. It was pretty obvious that this was going to be a far bigger challenge than last year but I'm still excited about the rest of this series.

POSTED BY
gnanzcupid
on | November 9, 2012, 11:41 GMT

Wonder how kallis is so fit even at 37. Sachin's "most test centuries" record in danger. He is just almost 44 now and chasing sachin's 51. If sachin doesnt fire against england i have no doubt that this man will over take the indian demi-god. WAKE UP SACHIN

POSTED BY
rohanbala
on | November 9, 2012, 11:39 GMT

The Australians might regret the non inclusion of Mitch Starc who would have lent variety to the attack. Nathan Lyon might not have much to do except bowling from one end, as it looks as though SA will pile up the runs in the first innings.

POSTED BY
Saffie1987
on | November 9, 2012, 11:23 GMT

@ Ridaa: Why are you mentioning my name! I agree with you, and if you read my statement correctly, you would see that i've said exactly the same thing you have pointed out, just in other words!!? :-) ;-) :-P!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

POSTED BY
Selassie-I
on | November 9, 2012, 11:22 GMT

Australia - you really shouldn't drop Amla, trust me, we pommies did it and he went on to get 300! Hopefully he punishes the you in a similar fashion.

POSTED BY
VivGilchrist
on | November 9, 2012, 11:22 GMT

Time to eliminate on field umpires as they seem too scared to make a decision. They just play the part of a glorified hatstand that can count to six. Go straight upstairs, I say.

POSTED BY
MattPym
on | November 9, 2012, 11:17 GMT

Does the game start early tomorrow to make up the time lost from today?

POSTED BY
joseyesu
on | November 9, 2012, 11:14 GMT

It is Ind, that lifted Aus. SA shows what Aus is capable of.

POSTED BY
goodhoot
on | November 9, 2012, 11:13 GMT

So bloody annoyed at yet another wicket from a no ball,when will they learn?Take your bowling marker back by 100mm and never feel the disappointment again!As bowlers these men work so hard and long to get wickets on decks like these bowling to batsmen who are the world's best,ya gotta take any chance ya get.I thought on the 1st morning with our attack 350 would be a good score but now 500 plus looks more like it.Stop bowling at leg stump & do what Billy McDermott taught you to do,pitch the ball up seam upright & let it swing.PLEASE!

POSTED BY
Stark62
on | November 9, 2012, 11:10 GMT

Watched the highlights and I have to say, Lyon was the most threatening candidate to pick up a wicket!!

Also, Morkel will enjoy bowling on these Aussie pitches.

POSTED BY
SICHO
on | November 9, 2012, 11:08 GMT

So far I've seen 109 comments and suprisingly Meety, jonesy2 & RandyOZ are nowhere to be found. Where are you hiding folks?

POSTED BY
satish619chandar
on | November 9, 2012, 11:04 GMT

Let us wait till the match ends to conclude whether it is a flat wicket.. England blamed the pitch to be flat but ended up losing 20 wickets on those tracks when they batted. And, we see Indian fans flaked for declaring the England pitches as Green tracks where England scored 500+, 600+ and even 700+. I think it is too early to conclude that the tracks are flat unless both teams bowl on it and bowl same way.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 11:02 GMT

Siddle's test record of the last 2 years is poorer than any of Pattison, Cummins, Harris, Hilfy, Bollinger or Starc. He never swings the ball. Why is he called the leader of the pack? Hilfy, Pattinson, Starc & Harris are clearly the best 4 at the moment.

POSTED BY
getsetgopk
on | November 9, 2012, 10:56 GMT

Australia seems done and dusted not for this match but for the entire series im afraid. Saffas are going to bully the Aussies into submission now, SA's batting lineup is way stronger and Aussie bowlers are raw and lack precision, a bit like Ishant sharma who can bowl with decent pace but when you bowl at the best batsman in world cricket you need to hit the areas that stirs doubt in batsman's mind and do that consistently. Tough work saving this game from here on.

POSTED BY
LordKratos
on | November 9, 2012, 10:43 GMT

If Peter Siddles 2 chances had been taken the Saffas would 4 down by now and the pitch wouldn't be "dead" now would it?

POSTED BY
TommytuckerSaffa
on | November 9, 2012, 10:41 GMT

Early days but I'm not blown away by this much hyped Aussie bowling attack which is meant to be 'lethal'. Aussie bowlers clocking mickey mouse average bowling speeds of 130km/h. Looking forward to Lyons chucking more pies tomorrow. Can't wait!!!

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 10:36 GMT

Sorry but Tahir is mediocre. Only plays Test cricket because SA haven't got any spinners worth a jot.
In any case, only spinners , apart from Swan, who are successful at Test level these days are ones that throw.

POSTED BY
Josh0070016
on | November 9, 2012, 10:23 GMT

Guys the fact is Australia is not all mighty anymore. We can say the Pitch was flat and stories like that. In the days of Gillespi, Mcgrath, Lee, warne and Fleming they used to take wickets on Flat Pitches, I.E in India, Paskitan, everywhere. The Fact is you have weak bowlers, and we have matured batsmen. CA should start looking into development. And please fire Mickey Athur.

POSTED BY
Unomaas
on | November 9, 2012, 10:22 GMT

We can't make deductions until both teams bowl on this pitch. The Oval taught us that! However I will say this... Any team that picks an offf spinner for SA is doomed! Off-spin is effectively neutralised with right hand batsmen stepping outside the line of off. Amla, Kallis, ABdV do this naturally. The chance of getting out becomes close to 0. The only way that Lyon is going to make an impact is if he bowls round the wicket and contains an end! That puts more pressure on the quicks to attack. Thats a warning to all future teams that think of playing a off-spinner against SA.

While no one has been looking...Alviro has become somewhat reliable :). Like the agression also. He is always game to take bowlers on.

How the hell do you go about getting Amla out? Glad he is playing for SA :P

Amla + Kallis is dangerous together! I think their is a little bit of competition going on their. Old master vs up and coming new master.

On a side note, dossier got Smith's wicket right :P

POSTED BY
VivtheGreatest
on | November 9, 2012, 10:19 GMT

@Sajil Alakkalakath, Michael Starc is a good bowler alright but he's certainly no Wasim Akram , tone it down a bit. Modern day Bruce Reid maybe, but Akram was in a different league man

POSTED BY
stormy16
on | November 9, 2012, 10:13 GMT

Ominous signs for Aus with SA taking up where they left from Eng. Its only day 1 but unless Aus get some early wickets t'row they will be chasing the game by the end of t'row. Not sure why SA picked Rory ahead of Tahir, the Gabba does offer spin and bounce and its already evidednt. Could be a vital error on day 5.

POSTED BY
ThumpingWin
on | November 9, 2012, 10:12 GMT

I think people supporting SA are getting real too excited after the 1st day.. Please dont forget this team may be WORLD CLASS but most of us know they can CHOKE at any time forget about innings defeat they might loose by 10 wickets.. SA in Winning position = SA losing in no time.. :):):):)..

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 10:12 GMT

@sawifan, yes Eng were 267/3 at the end of day 1, but the difference is the attack we have against that of the Aus. I doubt they'll be able to dig themselves out of a hole like what we did against the poms. As Donald said, best SA attack he has seen. And all of us know, they're head and shoulders above the rest. What I do know though, is if there's a team that never gives up, that will be the Ausies

POSTED BY
Basil777
on | November 9, 2012, 10:10 GMT

It is just a question of how many runs does SA bowling attack needs to get 20 wickets

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 10:05 GMT

Predicable result when the selectors continue to ignore those performing and sticking with continued failed bowers. Siddle, Hilfenhaus and Lyon are not test bowlers. Disgraceful the best bowler this year, Starc was ignored. A word of note to the poor first day pitch; where is the green and pace for Brissie?? The curator lied about the pitch being faster then any for some time. Maybe he should find a new job with the selectors.

POSTED BY
RoJayao
on | November 9, 2012, 10:05 GMT

Hmmm Dan perhaps a little harsh on the Aussie bowlers and in turn slightly undervaluing how good the batsmen were on a very docile pitch. I dunno what game you were watching if you thought the pitch was still doing something if the bowlers got it right. There was no swing, little lateral variation and slow easy pace and bounce. That said both Amla and Kallis should've been out, that no ball was just hopeless and unforgivable, the drop catch not far less so. It was a great toss to win but the Saffers have to take twenty wickets on a flat deck with no spinner and Kallis not likely to bowl too many overs, and tomorrow supposed to be seriously rain affected. Draw.

POSTED BY
ThumpingWin
on | November 9, 2012, 10:01 GMT

Cmmon guys and specially Australia hater's grow up.. This was just 1st day and two really good batsman Kallis and Amla took the day away from them thats it.. As far as indian fans are concerned this same bowling unit destroyed u so instead of saying anything about them go and check ur batting standards u people could not even draw a match.. Is australia's bowling is not world class then neither is India's batting line up..

POSTED BY
djdrastic
on | November 9, 2012, 9:59 GMT

Oh wow , looks like the sledging definitely has worked against Amla.May I suggest to Australia to bowl leg stump to him as well ? He really is very poor on leg stump.

POSTED BY
Rabbito
on | November 9, 2012, 9:53 GMT

definitely missing starcs left armers....but its basically gauranteed him a spot next match...didn't see any of the match, but were our bowlers bowling as fast and hitting the pitch as hard as last summer??....

POSTED BY
JimDavis
on | November 9, 2012, 9:45 GMT

SA only scoring 250 in the day keeps OZ very much in the game. Plenty of scope fo the bowlers to improve on. A kick up the back side on the first day of the series is no bad thing, as long as they are good enough to respond. Enough chances were created today to get another couple of wickets, just need to take them. Interesting bowling by Quiney, but maybe Maxwell would have been a better option.

POSTED BY
BG4cricket
on | November 9, 2012, 9:45 GMT

Some of the comments appear a bit tough but seriously only Pattinson was at the standard needed today even though I still think he was a touch straight. Siddle was good when he pitched it up but often forgot this was the key for him last year (maybe the new vegan diet has hurt him) and Hilfy looked more like the version that faced the Poms than last years version. Lyon certainly turned it but ridiculous field placings made it hard for him to threaten and keep the runs down. Not one of Clarkey's best days and I think if this was the result of the planning it might need a revisit. Would like to see Clarkey bowl a bit more rather than wasting overs with Hussey and Quiney. Hopefully the boys regroup tomorrow as we definitely can't afford to go 1-0 down.

POSTED BY
mahjut
on | November 9, 2012, 9:45 GMT

@NickKnightIsMyBunny ... must be a pretty strong club side where you're from, packed with First Class cricketers who've taken 650+ First Class wickets at an average of 26-ish and a SR of 48! It's true that he really hasn't shown enough control in tests yet [and will probably always be a little wayward] but he's had awful luck regarding when/where he's played so far and still has taken wickets...and outperformed Swann when it mattered. It was NOT a good idea to drop him in this test...on another matter - JP, being his replacement, will be sorely missed if he doesn't recover (please, please, please Mr Smith don't bring yourself on ... you're worse than KP... and his bowling is NOTHING more than supreme self-belief)

POSTED BY
Jester01
on | November 9, 2012, 9:42 GMT

Blame the pitch... Doesn't that sound familiar? We(SA) still need to bowl on this pitch. Its day-1 and the alarm bells are already out. Looking at our batting line-up it doesn't look good for Australia. Even Kleinveldt can bat. Amla and Kallis are batting superbly as always. AB can expect some Kangaroo soup coming his way tomorrow. The Aussies can expect some long days in sun this series. I'm just really surprised they dropped Tahir, he does leak runs but we'll miss him on the 4th & 5th day.

POSTED BY
Hammond
on | November 9, 2012, 9:39 GMT

@Front-Foot_lunge- mate who is "we"? I am Australian. If you are referring to the South African dismantling of England last winter most of the England fans (including myself) were very open and generous in our praise of the South Africans. It is my countrymen that unfortunately take the cake with the excuse factory. Glenn McGrath on Channel 9 news for instance bemoaning the quality of the wicket, without mentioning the poor quality of the bowling. You should be proud (as an Englishmen) that your countrymen pay credit where it is due. Mine hardly ever do.

POSTED BY
Ridaa
on | November 9, 2012, 9:38 GMT

@GRVJPR @Saffie1987 That's like saying Michael Clarke is a proud Englishman because his ancestors came from England. Hash was born and bred in Durban which last time I checked hasn't broken off from the African continent and magically merged with the subcontinent.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 9:34 GMT

Before we come to premature conclusions, go read the UK headlines after the first day of the first test between Eng and SA earlier this year. Day 1 ended with Eng on 267/3 (90). The South African bowling attack was made out as mediocre and over hyped. And how did things not change from day 2 with Eng being bowled out for 385 and then outplayed for the rest of the series. SA will do well to avoid complacency after day 1...

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-south-africa-2012/content/story/573130.html ... "South Africa's much-vaunted bowling attack endured a tough opening day of the series that left them scratching their heads for inspiration"

POSTED BY
anver777
on | November 9, 2012, 9:34 GMT

SA are well set for a huge 1st inning score, Aus must restrict them to a manageable total. If SA get 450-500 runs then Aus will feel the pressure.. signs of an interesting 2nd day's play tomorrow !!!!!

POSTED BY
mthi4life
on | November 9, 2012, 9:33 GMT

@ Barry Glynn yes Tahir will go for a few on the first few days bad he will rap up the tail and on the last day on a pitch that turns on the first day and has bounce he was going to be a hand full.Smith is really going to regret this and Tahir will be back in the second Test.

POSTED BY
Front-Foot_lunge
on | November 9, 2012, 9:27 GMT

Many thanks @Hammond for reminding me of that excuse! I am sure all Australians appreciate your generosity in giving them some of the excuses we used over the summer when SA ripped into us. I do believe that that particular excuse was wheeled out during Headingly when SA put on a mammoth total...but when they bowled, it all of a sudden turned into a spicy pitch! Lets not forget, they can always used one of our favourites, the "blame the BCCI" excuse in case they run a bit short.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 9:24 GMT

@Rajesh_india_1990 hahaha, have you forgotten the 4-0 drubbing. And where is the firepower? Isn't it icepower?

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 9:19 GMT

Mickey Arthur's thinking: Don't make the track too tough - SA has a bloody good bowling attack - their batsmen will be their own worst enemy. The pressure will get them... and if they don't meekly capitulate, then there is no harm done, as they won't take all 20 our wickets on this pitch either.
He knows the SA team and under him the Proteas might well have folded. But, this is now, not then. Mickey might be unpleasantly surprised.

POSTED BY
Saffie1987
on | November 9, 2012, 9:14 GMT

@ GRVJPR: Hashim Amla was born and bred in South-Africa, and so were his parents! So in other words, he is not Indian! He only has Indian ancestors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

POSTED BY
DickCam
on | November 9, 2012, 9:13 GMT

Aussies gentle MEDIUM pace was cannon fodder.

POSTED BY
Front-Foot_lunge
on | November 9, 2012, 9:05 GMT

Tragic news about Dumminy! In England, many fans I am ashamed to call compatriots, cheered when Glen MacGrath got an anckle injury in 2005, I doubt Aussies would be so crass. On todays performance, Australia showed much better performance than England's bowlers fared against the same batsmen, when Amla took us apart for over 300 runs.

POSTED BY
Front-Foot-Lunge
on | November 9, 2012, 9:05 GMT

As I predicted yesterday, Lyon, the latest Aussie 'spinner' who cannot turn the ball (shouldn't that be something the Aussies look for first when selecting another bowler?) GOT HAMMERED. Goin at 5-6 an over standard practise for any Aussie spinner since Warne, and there's been many of them, all having their career ruined at the hands of England. Now South Africa are giving them more of the same. Drop Lyon once and for all, there must surely be someone other than 'There's goes the Ashes' Hauritz, 'Long-Hop' Mcgain and Casson or the hilarious Beer to pick for Australia. Can't they try out a teenager seeing that Australian cricketers are rubbish?

POSTED BY
Rajesh_india_1990
on | November 9, 2012, 8:59 GMT

INDIA is the only team who has the firepower to beat this Mighty Southafricans..waiting for 2013..india's tour of southafrica..the year, southafrica's winning run will come to an end..anyway goodluck for australia to avoid innings defeat..

POSTED BY
russellBeukes
on | November 9, 2012, 8:58 GMT

normally i wait until both sides bat to make judgement on a pitch but one has to admit the aussie bowling attack look a little lifeless. I would have been much more afraid of the likes of Starc and Cummins..bowlers who i believe have a X factor. Hilfenhaus looked ordinary..and i must say i can remember him having such a rounded arm action. Alot depends on the first hour tommorow, England, with a better bowling attack, were left reeling as Kallis and Amla took SA to almost 700 just a few months ago...the writing is on the wall, i cant wait for day 2

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 8:57 GMT

This is either a pitch that is too good for batting, too poor for bowling or SA are just simply better than Aus. Shows that the series against SL, NZ, IND and WI were all false hopes of a team getting better. Day 2 would be fun.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 8:55 GMT

@crh8971

Regarding the peterson LBW, it's quite simple: The impact of the ball on peterson's toe was outside the offstump.

POSTED BY
picket23
on | November 9, 2012, 8:54 GMT

Why were the Aussies bowling 10+ kph slower than this time last year? they were rarely cracking 140 today and spent most of the time in the low 130's. Last year they were all bowling 140+, even Hilfenhaus. Siddle cracked 150 in his faster spells. The attack looked much more like the one that was demolished in the last Ashes than it has in recent times. No swing, no pace NO WICKETS

POSTED BY
Essex_Man
on | November 9, 2012, 8:53 GMT

@ SurlyCynic on (November 09 2012, 07:42 AM GMT) - There is no pace battery. Pie-throwing trundlers are all there are in Australia these days - the cupboard is well and truly bare. The Saffers have the strongest batting line-up in world cricket at the moment; I would be amazed if they didn't pile up the runs against the pop-gun Aussies.

As for all the posts about dropping Tahir: Agreed, it would be a bizarre selection to drop a decent spinner. But have you seen Tahir bowl?! He'd struggle to get into my local club side, he's nowhere near Test match quality.

POSTED BY
Valavan
on | November 9, 2012, 8:52 GMT

@AnyIndianFan who yawns Australia doctoring pitches, I would just say NO, they are the only ones alongside Windies and to some extent England, give sportive wickets, all time it has been 3 pitches assist seamers and 3 assist spinners, sometimes MCG,WACA,Gabba pacy and SCG,Adelaide,Hobart spinning, but for sometime now from ashes 2010 Brisbane became flat and hobart became quick. The teams who doctor wickets are mainly India, SL and some extent South Africa. thats my opinion, ofcourse you can bring different scenarios but this is how it has been. cricinfo please publish.

POSTED BY
Ridaa
on | November 9, 2012, 8:51 GMT

Pffft, heard it all before in England. SA piled on the runs at Headingley and everyone was moaning about the pitch being flat. Lo and behold steyn and co. take the ball and all of a sudden the pitch has magically turned into a good bowling track.

Let's face facts: The England and Aussie bowling attacks are just mediocre and the SA batting line-up is world class, nothing to do with the pitch. On the flip side though SA's bowling line-up is also world class. I hate to count chickens before they hatch but I predict that this pitch is going to be magically "lively" again when SA have ball in hand, simply because Steyn and Philander are the number 1 and 2 Test bowlers in the world and Morkel's in the top 10 as well. Throw in the fact that Kleinveldt can regularly bowl over 140kph as well and Kallis pushes 140kph on occasion.

Oh an one other thing: Newsflash to some of the other commenters, India aren't involved in this series, I'm getting tired of hearing about them night and day.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 8:47 GMT

Its funny people are already predicting draw in first day!! Game can change in any moment. Leaving out starc was a mistake but as a saf supporter im very happy. Hope they will crush the aus pace-battery myth like they did against anderson and co.

POSTED BY
Hammond
on | November 9, 2012, 8:43 GMT

Excuse one check.. "The Gabba was a road".. looking forward to excuse number two..

POSTED BY
SATID
on | November 9, 2012, 8:43 GMT

A bit surprised at Tahir exclusion. Regardless of pitch you need some variation in your attack. With Tahir you always feel a wicket is a possibility and he proved in UK that he can take any wicket and break any partnership when needed most(or least expected). SA attack feel a bit one dimensional...hope I am proven wrong.

POSTED BY
Jabulani
on | November 9, 2012, 8:34 GMT

@ GRV JPR - he is a great cricketer and an inspiration to all cricket lovers (especially Indians considering his heritage)...but he is not from India! His grandparents yes but he is SAFFA born and bread.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 8:34 GMT

mthi4life
Tahir is tuppence.
Bowls at least two fours balls an over. Not so important in a Test if SA have plenty of runs to play with but he is very mediocre. Only gets in the side because there isnt a decent spinner in the whole of SA, bit like Austraalia really!

POSTED BY
JG2704
on | November 9, 2012, 8:33 GMT

Day 1 to SA , no doubt and sounds like a good toss to win. Australian side looks lesser without Watson in it. Also is Cummins injured or omitted ? I feel he is a much more consistent bowler than Pattinson who has never hugely impressed me despite his stats vs India.

POSTED BY
pat_one_back
on | November 9, 2012, 8:23 GMT

Considering light denied the second nut, SA don't have that much up on Aust, successful day. Some very questionable comments about Clarke's bowling changes, simply used what he had and not much came off, missed it but first ball switching Patto I heard, that's surely a Captains wicket.

POSTED BY
64blip
on | November 9, 2012, 8:22 GMT

I see Amla has crumbled under a barrage of sledging! Haha!! We won't know if it's a batter's paradise til the Aussies have a go. (Hint: when someone is really good at something they make it look easy). What happened with the Bowden and Smith 'lbw'? They're using DRS aren't they? Had the Aussies used both of theirs up already?

POSTED BY
Safalicious
on | November 9, 2012, 8:22 GMT

I will reserve comment on the "dead" pitch until both sides have had a bowl. Methinks Philander and Steyn have conjured life out of less responsive pitches, just ask England who lost by an inninngs on a lifeless pitch.

As far as leaving Tahir out, dont forget that Duminy is not a bad spinner and Rudolph used to bowl leggies, though not sure if he has done so recently. Kallis is also capable of very decent cutters.

I suspect that SA will aim to reach 550+ and then stick Aus in. The message from SA in this series is clear already: "to take 20 wickets, aus better prepare more lively pitches". Is this admission from Aus that SA have the superior attack? I think it is.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 8:20 GMT

Lyon are leaking runs. He looks like a clubcricket bowler. Lets see how the SA bowlers go on this wicket before we decide that this is a flat track. The Windies of the 80's would have loved to bowl on this wicket. Where is the fire and brimstone. Peterson, Amla and Kallis batted well and got some runs. They will want to bat till after tea and try to increase the scoring rate. Hopefully the weather is good for all 5 days and we get a result.

POSTED BY
satish619chandar
on | November 9, 2012, 8:17 GMT

On the other hand, the day-1 could be seen as the first day of the England-SA series that happened just recently. Day-1 SA bowlers were termed mediocre and short of practice but they did control flow of runs and were accurate just enough to put a brake on the scoring rate. That is what exactly happened today. With better luck, Australia could have seen Rudolph/Duminy batting by this time. But Bad luck is not everything. With the quality of Aussie bowlers, i wouldn't be surprised if they make a strong comeback tomorrow.

POSTED BY
BellCurve
on | November 9, 2012, 8:15 GMT

Kumble faced and delivered a total of 47,305 balls in his Test career. Kallis is currently on 47,085. Kallis should therefore pass Kumble during this series, even during this match. Also, if Kallis gets his 44th century tomorrow he will be just 7 behind Tendulkar. The likelihood of Kallis catching up with Tendulkar is increasing.

POSTED BY
PFEL
on | November 9, 2012, 8:03 GMT

I have lost a lot of faith in hawkeye after the Peterson/Hilfenhaus lbw decision. The actual computer plotting was completely inaccurate to what was actually seen in terms of where the ball struck in line.
There must be an issue with either the cameras and/or the IT equipment because that ball hit in line with the inside of off-stump from watching the replays, even though hawkeye plotted it as hitting in line with the outside of off.

I don't think the aussies have a right to be upset about that though, considering that ball should have been a no-ball anyway . . .

POSTED BY
AMAZINGFAN
on | November 9, 2012, 7:57 GMT

WHY AUSTRALIA R NOT PLAYING MITCHEL STARC,HE IS THE BEST AUSSIE BOWLER AT THE MOMENT......I THOUGHT SA CUD HAVE SCORED MORE RUNS ON THIS FLAT PITCH.....

POSTED BY
nthuq
on | November 9, 2012, 7:52 GMT

An interesting day. SA have decided against taking the advantage against the slew of part timers we've thrown at them for some reason on a lovely batting track. Overs missed today and possible overs that might be missed tomorrow will probably mean this match will be a draw if we can produce any sort of significant batting display. Lyon bowled beautifully throughout and arguably asked many questions of the batsmen, but SA have countered him beautifully. A pity Clarke didn't bowl him more.

POSTED BY
Ozcricketwriter
on | November 9, 2012, 7:51 GMT

The selectors did Australia no favours here, especially by naming Mitchell Starc as 12th man. Oh dear. No punch to the attack and no real variety. It will be extremely difficult for Australia to win from here. A draw will be an incredible effort too. South Africa already look set for an easy victory.

POSTED BY
SurlyCynic
on | November 9, 2012, 7:42 GMT

Hang on, wasn't this supposed to be an assault by an Aussie 'pace battery'? Why were these trundlers selected instead? Perhaps I need to read the dossier more closely.

POSTED BY
crh8971
on | November 9, 2012, 7:42 GMT

Observations from day 1: The pitch was a batting paradise with no movement off the seem and almost none through the air. The SA batsmen batted extremely well and made the most of their luck. The Aussie pace bowling was solid without any real menace. Their was a degree of sameness to it and maybe a little left arm from Starc might have been a nice variation. I thought Pattinson was the best of the bowlers but down a little in pace from his best. Billy Bowden is a dreadful umpire and has proven this over many years. How he didn't give the Smith LBW decision is beyond me, it was as plum as you will get from a fast bowler. The decision that Rauf gave not out to Peterson was pretty plum as well and I am not sure how the DRS cant overturn that. I don't like the retrospective no ball rule - either call it in play or forget about it.

POSTED BY
Clive_Dunn
on | November 9, 2012, 7:41 GMT

Well thats a pretty demoralizing day for the Aussies.

POSTED BY
sawifan
on | November 9, 2012, 7:41 GMT

ENG v SAF, 1st test, end of day 1 ENG 267/3... not too dissimilar here. It is still really too early to say too much, but SAF have been impressive, and AUS looked very flat. I'm sure they'll come out firing tomorrow (crosses fingers haha).

POSTED BY
mthi4life
on | November 9, 2012, 7:37 GMT

This one is going to be a draw because Smith left out Tahir.But I do not see Australia winning this one they can only save it.

POSTED BY
athem79
on | November 9, 2012, 7:35 GMT

HAmla is the Wall of South Africa.

POSTED BY
thebarmyarmy
on | November 9, 2012, 7:31 GMT

Looking forward to day 2 of the First Slaughter!

POSTED BY
crh8971
on | November 9, 2012, 7:31 GMT

@Rahul_Ashok I don't think it is case of trying to prepare a pitch to blunt the SA pace bowlers. In my 30 plus years of watching test cricket in Australia I don't think I have ever seen a pitch deliberately prepared to suit the home team. I think instructions from the state cricket associations are far more to blame as they instruct curators to prepare pitches to last five days and therefore we have seen a succession of pitches that are great for batting for at least 3.5 days. I think it diminishes the quality of the cricket. Would much rather see pitches where 300 plus is a great first innings score. Almost nothing beat the bat today and the bowlers, whilst not great, were reasonably good.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 7:26 GMT

Why Starch was left out? At the moment he is the best fast bowler as he has got pace, swing and bounce. To me he is modern days Wasim Akram, sultan of pace and swing.

POSTED BY
MJ1234
on | November 9, 2012, 7:18 GMT

Day 1 to SA. Aussies have let go of wonderful opportunities to have dismissed Kallis and Amla early on and the signs are ominous unless they pick up quick wickets tomorrow.

POSTED BY
CSpiers
on | November 9, 2012, 7:18 GMT

certain draw on the cards with this dead pitch and SA not playing a spinner, dont they know that's how you win a match on day 5 in Brisbane?

POSTED BY
la_bazza
on | November 9, 2012, 7:17 GMT

I guess every australian will say, "but but but it's such a flat track..."

POSTED BY
LordKratos
on | November 9, 2012, 7:14 GMT

The first day of test cricket has barely played out the maximum overs and yet our aussie friend are already waiting for a declaration from Smith? That's a good one

POSTED BY
satish619chandar
on | November 9, 2012, 7:12 GMT

People abshed Dhoni for bowling himself on first day of Lords test like anything and even named it as "Disgrace to cricket" but Quiney and Hussey bowling more than 10 overs with three very fit quicks and a spinner all completely fit is just a joke. While the Aussies included the extra plans in the Dossier, they ignored the primary plan of "setting up for special delivery". They did bowl well without much luck but somethimes, you need to create your own luck by doing basics perfectly and outthinking the batsman. They failed to do it. They did bowl with discipline but can't be termed as smart effort.

POSTED BY
GeoffreysMother
on | November 9, 2012, 7:11 GMT

crh8971
Yep, you are right. 25,000 today. Tts just that half empty Aussie stadiums hold more than full English ones. Mind you, if its like the last Boxing Day Ashes test there is a difference between the number going in in the morning and those still left at Tea. Sorry, just couldn't resist it.

Seriously though, I'm surprised with Australia not including Starc, especially in a three match series. It seems a defensive measure designed to restrict South Africa and draw the match (and series) rather than try to win it.

POSTED BY
Sunil_Batra
on | November 9, 2012, 7:10 GMT

Terrible pitch, its very flat and no life for the bowlers, I think we deliberately produced a flat pitch to negate their fast bowlers but it back fired today. Kevin Mitchell Jnr usually does a good job but he got this one wrong.

POSTED BY
Rajesh_india_1990
on | November 9, 2012, 7:09 GMT

So much hype about bouncers,sledging,bla bla bla from australian media....its going to be an innings defeat for australia...I think Kallis is going to surpass sachin's 51 test centuries...

POSTED BY
Mary_786
on | November 9, 2012, 7:08 GMT

@rahulcricindia agree with you on the part timers, Quiney should not be bowling as he doesn't even bowl for Victoria. Clarke should have used himself as he is a handy spinner, not a bowler who doesn't even bowl in shield cricket.

POSTED BY
derpherp
on | November 9, 2012, 7:05 GMT

We haven't been bowling well at all. No swing or seaming.

POSTED BY
Neuen
on | November 9, 2012, 7:01 GMT

Australian dossier, page 37: AB DeVilliers - Very dangerous. Keep Amla & Kallis in so we don't have to bowl to him.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 7:00 GMT

Dear oh dear. Gotta bag those chances i'm afraid Sidd's and the no ball is a no brainer. 4-240 at stumps would have had it pretty even, as it is, the Aussies are going to have to play exceptional cricket from here. The return catch was much better than a 50/50 proposition. As a seam bowler, if you float up a straight slower ball you should be expecting, rather than hoping for a return catch, gotta take that catch.

POSTED BY
Rabbito
on | November 9, 2012, 6:52 GMT

Got to say as an aussie, im more disappointed with the pitch than anything else, the bowling hasn't been magnificent, but its been fairly accurate and sustained, clarke captaincy hasn't been too good either, (where warner?) but the gabba has just been a road, so i guess we'll see the same result as the first test of the last ashes, another draw, its even more disapointing when we were gearing up for beauty of a pitch, assiting the quicks for a day or two ect. pretty poor, the only thing i can see to look forward to is the potential of warner to score 180 odd off `40 again like last summer, - he'll like this pitch!!

POSTED BY
Neuen
on | November 9, 2012, 6:52 GMT

Australian dossier, page 37: AB DeVilliers - Very dangerous. Keep Amla & Kallis in so we don't have to bowl to him.

POSTED BY
crescendo_1981
on | November 9, 2012, 6:52 GMT

It's Amla sledging the Aussies with the bat! How abt bringing back Shane?

POSTED BY
disco_bob
on | November 9, 2012, 6:35 GMT

Left the ground at tea, an hour and a half later it's still 2fer, hoping to see the Punter bat tomorrow but I'm not sure if that's a bad thing or a good thing, it depends on whether SA declare late or we can do a bit more damage early.

POSTED BY
rahulcricindia
on | November 9, 2012, 6:26 GMT

Clarke might have got infected by Dhoni, using part-timers on day one is quite Dhoni's way. Dhoni has the excuse of having less than competent bowlers but Clarke surely needs a better excuse..

POSTED BY
ProteaMan
on | November 9, 2012, 6:14 GMT

Yes I know, its still a long way to go, but at this stage.............which Oz player or the captain could manage to unsettle either Amla nor Kallis! The Oz bowlers looked like a couple of school boys

POSTED BY
crh8971
on | November 9, 2012, 6:13 GMT

I really think we are far too obsessed with trying to produce "5 day" test wickets in Australia and as a result we get wickets like this which are absolutely perfect for batting from the first over. We know from first class cricket that we are capable of producing green top seamers. The Gabba pitch should always give a bit more to the bowlers on day one than this.

POSTED BY
Edassery
on | November 9, 2012, 6:12 GMT

Well, I watched the match a bit early morning today. Australia's bowling, although they try to be artificially aggressive, looks pathetic. Don't they have better bowlers in stock? Looking forward to see how SA bowls on this rather flat track. Philander, Steyn, Morkel and the debutant Kleinveldt should be an awesome pace battery supported at times by Kallis.

POSTED BY
MinusZero
on | November 9, 2012, 6:08 GMT

@Eskimo. Amla is still around. 115 partnership since "mla is probably gonna follow soon if he keeps flashing at wide balls."Australia were given a false sense of security against WI, India and SRL. Takes world class opposition to show the quality of the bowling. The gap in the rankings might not be much but the talent difference is huge so far

POSTED BY
Adoh
on | November 9, 2012, 6:07 GMT

Yep, this is what happens when you don't play the best left handed bowler who brings it in to the right handers against the best three right handers in the game. Instead we go for over-the-hilfenhause...

POSTED BY
GeoffreysMother
on | November 9, 2012, 6:02 GMT

Just woke up to the strap line 'Amla and Kallis accumulate'. Sounds familiar! Worry if its the same tomorrow morning.

POSTED BY
Paulk
on | November 9, 2012, 6:01 GMT

It is a pleasure to watch Kallis bat so freely these days...

POSTED BY
crh8971
on | November 9, 2012, 6:00 GMT

@GRVJPR I am pretty sure Australia has the best crowds for test cricket in the world and there seems to be a pretty good attendance there today. Will be 20 to 30 thousand there tomorrow. I agree that the pitch is very lifeless. Winning the toss and batting should be a brave decision that pays dividends if you are good enough not and absolute no brainer.

POSTED BY
Stateside_Steve
on | November 9, 2012, 5:55 GMT

One thing is for sure, the current Aussie team are a shell of the great Aussie teams of yore. Border built it, Taylor improved it, Waugh took it to their zenith and Ponting maintained it for a while and they are on a steady decline since then. Their batting doesn't take the fight to the bowlers and their bowling doesn't dictate the terms anymore.

When they were at their peak I despised them, but the current crop makes me wish to have the golden age of Aussie cricket back. These guys are too genial, too smiley on the field and their body language doesn't convey a burning desire to win. It is still too early in the series and the match is on a batting track, lets see how it all develops. In the meantime I am not holding my breath.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 5:50 GMT

Australia is going to be trounced in this match by South Africa

POSTED BY
akbaassu
on | November 9, 2012, 5:46 GMT

@kishore: you are telling absolutely correct. australia is out of form before India Series. They cheated india by creating batting friendly pitches while warm up games and green tops while test series. they are 420s

POSTED BY
Hammond
on | November 9, 2012, 5:40 GMT

Smith batting on the "gabbatoir" pitch without a thought shows how much respect SA have for this bog average bowling attack. Zero. And the scoreboard will just keep growing until South Africa want to have a bowl. And they don't have just an average attack.

POSTED BY
thebarmyarmy
on | November 9, 2012, 5:26 GMT

Let the slaughter begin!

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 5:12 GMT

clearly australia is missing shane watsons bowling here

POSTED BY
OceanSaffa
on | November 9, 2012, 5:11 GMT

Lord Amla & King Kallis at the crease, Oz need 2 get rid of these 2 quicky, if not... Very ominous. Oz attack lacks pace & penetration. The pitch looks very lively, cant wait 2 see SA attack on this pitch.

POSTED BY
risimati_l
on | November 9, 2012, 5:00 GMT

good going by our boys so far hope they pile up the runs, been awake since 1am SA time and so far its worth it.

POSTED BY
GRVJPR
on | November 9, 2012, 4:56 GMT

Hashim Amla, makes all Indians Proud. What a gem of a cricketer from INDIA.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 4:32 GMT

See the sledging of Amla is going well!

POSTED BY
only_sachin
on | November 9, 2012, 4:19 GMT

Its going to be very hard day for Clarke and co.. Amla will kill them....

@Grant: Senator, I watched Shane Warne bowl. I saw batsmen bamboozled by Shane Warne. Shane Warne threatened to take a wicket with every ball. Senator, Imran Tahir is no Shane Warne.

POSTED BY
Eskimo
on | November 9, 2012, 3:35 GMT

Amla and Peterson are playing too aggressively, they are gonna throw their wickets away. They are not even raising the run-rate that much compared to the shots they're playing.

And as I type this Peterson goes. Amla is probably gonna follow soon if he keeps flashing at wide balls. The score is 119/2, not 419/2.

POSTED BY
GRVJPR
on | November 9, 2012, 3:34 GMT

This is how you kill test cricket. Australia should be fined for preparing such lifeless tracks. Now players from both sides will score plenty of run, with no quality bowling around, and claim they are better player of fast bouncy stuff. Where is fast bouncy stuff???

POSTED BY
satish619chandar
on | November 9, 2012, 3:31 GMT

There you go. Take a review for a 50-50 and blame it on umpire as he didn't overturn as it is NOT a howler. This is why i always thought you should have ONLY 2 reviews. Even if you chance one for a 50-50 and lose it, save the second one for the ones which you think is certainly out. Never try a review for marginal ones which may go anyway. With the current tech, it is not to get correct decision but to eliminate the howlers. My only concern on DRS is, consistent usage. It was not consistent most times it was used.

POSTED BY
Mervo
on | November 9, 2012, 3:27 GMT

I cant believe that Australia did not play Starc. The only one who can take the ball the other way. Siddle bowled his usual short of a length stuff and the others just gentle outswing. Pretty average 'attack'. Cant wait to see the SA bowlers move it around.

POSTED BY
Dirk_L
on | November 9, 2012, 2:51 GMT

South Africa, faced wih the decision of which of their two not very penetrative (having test careers of respectively 26 wickets @ 40.19 and 12 wickets @ 42.50) spinners to select, plumped for the man with the slightly worse average, because he is much better than his rival in the batting and fielding departments.

Australia in trouble already - the lack of penetration and pace in their bowling attack is painfully obvious. They need a couple of early wickets after lunch or we could see SA running up a huge total.

POSTED BY
MinusZero
on | November 9, 2012, 2:27 GMT

Tahir's omission wont matter too much if SA bat the house down.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 2:20 GMT

I think AUSSIES were fired up this morning..they were enthusiastic in their approach..Hope post lunch , our bowlers will have a go at d SA batsmen,,

POSTED BY
SurlyCynic
on | November 9, 2012, 2:09 GMT

Duminy is a better spinner than Lyon so not sure what all the criticism of the selection is all about.

POSTED BY
meursault
on | November 9, 2012, 1:37 GMT

Don't listen to the Australian TV commentary davidpk, all Aussie cricket fans avoid this national embarrassment by listening to the radio commentary instead.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 1:33 GMT

Always need a spinner like Imran Tahir in case wicket fails to help seamers

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 1:27 GMT

Tahir is a legspinner. Australia's top order is predominantly left handed. Hence, Tahir has been left out, for this first test. Also, Kleinveldt will be expected to contribute around 40 runs from his two innings, whereas maybe 15 or 20 at most would be expected from Tahir. Esp. if Kallis aggravates his niggle, it looks a smart move.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 0:47 GMT

Go Australia !!! Let's take the Number 1 spot back :)

POSTED BY
Nish_US
on | November 9, 2012, 0:42 GMT

Smith fell to Clarke's ploy.. of saying he will go with four quicks....
Smith went with four quicks, but clarke choose the spinner.....what an idea sirji

POSTED BY
bumsonseats
on | November 9, 2012, 0:36 GMT

love sitting at home in the uk with rain rattling the windows watching the cricket. pity though we have to listen to the aussie commentators though, but i guess you cannot have everything

POSTED BY
drajwani
on | November 9, 2012, 0:29 GMT

maybe SA is just looking to draw this game, not having any variety in the attack does not seem to make sense at the moment.

POSTED BY
on | November 8, 2012, 23:59 GMT

I think South Africa's decision to leave Imran Tahir out is absurd. Yes the Gabba pitch is helpful to the seamers but not having a spinner in the team just takes the flair and the balance away.

POSTED BY
on | November 8, 2012, 23:57 GMT

big mistake in not playing Starc...

POSTED BY
on | November 8, 2012, 23:56 GMT

No surprises on the Australian side, even though the media talked up the chance that Starc might get in instead of Hilfenhaus, or Lyon. He was always going to be 12th man.

A surprise on the SA side, leaving out the leg-spinner, Imran Tahir. If he can play in English conditions, why not Brisbane? I don't think Kallis' niggle is reason enough to leave out a decent leggie. The Gabba is Shane Warne's most successful ground, after all.

Only 6 minutes to go!

POSTED BY
2.14istherunrate
on | November 8, 2012, 23:49 GMT

Warne used to take a stack of wickets here-I think this was his best venue. Tahir's omission may be costly.

No featured comments at the moment.

POSTED BY
2.14istherunrate
on | November 8, 2012, 23:49 GMT

Warne used to take a stack of wickets here-I think this was his best venue. Tahir's omission may be costly.

POSTED BY
on | November 8, 2012, 23:56 GMT

No surprises on the Australian side, even though the media talked up the chance that Starc might get in instead of Hilfenhaus, or Lyon. He was always going to be 12th man.

A surprise on the SA side, leaving out the leg-spinner, Imran Tahir. If he can play in English conditions, why not Brisbane? I don't think Kallis' niggle is reason enough to leave out a decent leggie. The Gabba is Shane Warne's most successful ground, after all.

Only 6 minutes to go!

POSTED BY
on | November 8, 2012, 23:57 GMT

big mistake in not playing Starc...

POSTED BY
on | November 8, 2012, 23:59 GMT

I think South Africa's decision to leave Imran Tahir out is absurd. Yes the Gabba pitch is helpful to the seamers but not having a spinner in the team just takes the flair and the balance away.

POSTED BY
drajwani
on | November 9, 2012, 0:29 GMT

maybe SA is just looking to draw this game, not having any variety in the attack does not seem to make sense at the moment.

POSTED BY
bumsonseats
on | November 9, 2012, 0:36 GMT

love sitting at home in the uk with rain rattling the windows watching the cricket. pity though we have to listen to the aussie commentators though, but i guess you cannot have everything

POSTED BY
Nish_US
on | November 9, 2012, 0:42 GMT

Smith fell to Clarke's ploy.. of saying he will go with four quicks....
Smith went with four quicks, but clarke choose the spinner.....what an idea sirji

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 0:47 GMT

Go Australia !!! Let's take the Number 1 spot back :)

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 1:27 GMT

Tahir is a legspinner. Australia's top order is predominantly left handed. Hence, Tahir has been left out, for this first test. Also, Kleinveldt will be expected to contribute around 40 runs from his two innings, whereas maybe 15 or 20 at most would be expected from Tahir. Esp. if Kallis aggravates his niggle, it looks a smart move.

POSTED BY
on | November 9, 2012, 1:33 GMT

Always need a spinner like Imran Tahir in case wicket fails to help seamers